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Step Forward: An Interview with Louise Yau

31 Jan 2013

In the cut-throat world of A CHORUS LINE, hours of auditioning have happened before the curtain opens on the final 24 hopefuls, fighting to make it through the next cut. Unfortunately, for seven of them, that cut is the end of the road. Enter seasoned competitive dancer Louise Yau, who makes her debut performance with Glasgow Music Theatre this week as feisty auditionee Lois. As one of those unlucky seven, Louise has had a different experience of A Chorus Line than many of her cast-mates. And, as she tells us, this isn't the last you'll hear of Lois, or Louise...

So, Louise - this is your first time auditioning for and performing with GMT. How did the audition process for A Chorus Line compare with the audition process in A Chorus Line?

Louise: The audition process was really friendly, I think it was done in a nice way because everyone danced together, everyone sang together and everyone did the dialogue pieces together, although I personally found it quite traumatic! I might have been lying on the floor with my sheet of music over my head! But overall it was much friendlier than the audition in the show, which is more cut-throat. It’s all about you, because it’s your life and your job.

What’s been the most challenging aspect of performing in A Chorus Line for you as one of the ‘Magnificent Seven’?

L: For me personally, definitely the singing. I’m not a singer in any way shape or form, so I’ve found it hard. But it’s getting easier and everyone’s been super nice to me and trying to make me feel less rubbish! <Ed: You are most certainly not rubbish Louise!>

What was your personal 'wow' moment of the show?

L: I think it was the moment that we finally completed the first number. We put it all together and then it clicked, you knew who you were beside and you could interact with them - Alan almost accidentally kills me! So it’s nice to get to that stage where you can have some banter and put your own interpretation into someone else’s choreography.

If you were on 'The Line', and Zach asked you about your dance journey

, what would you tell him?

L: Well, it’s been a long one! Completely different from anything inA Chorus Line. I started dancing at four and did tap for a year, then from the age of five until I was about 15 I did competitive highland dancing.

Did you win?

L: Yeah! Though not until I was about eight, when I started getting better. I competed most weekends from when I was six. It can be hard. It’s definitely a stricter environment than most people are used to; keeps you skinny though! Then in September 2011 I started attending ballet and jazz classes at Dance Glasgow and now I’m never away from the place! That’s how I ended up getting involved in A Chorus Line.

Your character, Lois, doesn’t make it through the penultimate cut. What’s next for her?

L: From what I’ve been told about her, she is a good dancer but she still gets cut for some reason, so I think she’s finding that she will need to train really hard to be good. Though I don’t think one ‘no’ will be enough to stop her from trying!

What is your favourite kind of line?

L: I’d have to say...squiggly. Because it’s just more interesting.

And lastly, can you do fankicks?

L: I can do terrific fan-kicks! Reverse fan-kicks AND normal fan-kicks!